SPECIES : XYLORYCTES JAMAICENSIS

SIZE : [ 25 - 35 mm ]

THE EASTERN RHINOCEROS BEETLE IS A RARE AND ELUSIVE SCARAB WHICH IS KNOWN TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH WHITE ASH TREES ( FRAXINUS AMERICANA). DUE TO WIDESPREAD HABITAT LOSS AND THE DISSAPEARANCE OF THEIR HOST TREE, OUR CAPTIVE BREEDING PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY THE LARGEST CONSERVATION EFFORT TO PRESERVE THIS SPECIES IN CANADA. IN CAPTIVITY, ADULTS CAN LIVE OVER 1 YEAR, AND FEED ON WATERMELON AND APPLE. LARVAE CAN BE FED A MIXTURE OF ROTTEN LEAVES AND SOFT DECAYING HARDWOOD. ADULTS OFFERED ARE EXCLUSIVELY MALE, AS FEMALES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE UNCOMMON AND ARE KEPT TO MAINTAIN OUR BREEDING POPULATION.